ESSENTIAL QUALITIES FOR SUPERB MANAGEMENT

Great practice managers possess a variety of skills and traits to effectively lead their teams. Some of those skills are natural talents and some can be learned. The important thing is to recognize the essential qualities and then strive to continually improve on them in order to be the best leader possible.

Think for a moment of previous people for whom you have worked. What made them so special and why did you enjoy working for them?

Outstanding managers seem to have the same type of personality. They seem to be driven and have a purpose to their life. They're "take charge" people and are usually very optimistic, always anticipating a positive outcome.

These outstanding leaders set goals and plan on how they will achieve them. They envision the future and plan how and when they're going to get there. After carefully considering the consequences of their actions, they're the people who are willing to take risks. They're courageous.

And finally, they strive for quality and not just quantity. They're interested in the whole picture. And, they possess the ability to train and lead others to become more effective and grow, both in their personal and professional lives. Rarely do these leaders find themselves trapped in common management/leadership pitfalls.

Let's take a look at some of those qualities of outstanding practice managers:

" The ability to focus on the task at hand - Do you ever find yourself putting out one fire after another? Do you find your days end all too quickly without having accomplished any of the projects you were going to work on? You may have fallen into the pattern of managing by crisis. This occurs when you allow circumstances arising during the day to divert your attention from your daily work plan. Certainly, there will be times when true emergencies will require deviations from the daily routine. A good leader will assess the situation, determine how and when to deal with it and avoid management by crisis by focusing on the task at hand.

" A talent for walking the talk - We've all heard the phrase, "walk the talk." But do we really apply it to ourselves and do we have an attitude of exemption and place ourselves on pedestals. Not walking the talk is the quickest way to destroy the respect your staff has for you. If you expect staff to be on time, you must be on time. If your staff is limited to an hour lunch, you, too, must return from lunch in one hour. It is important for everyone to follow basic policies and procedures.

" The ability to think things through - When a problem arises, do you take the time to think about it before rushing to a solution? Sometimes the problem is actually a symptom of a larger issue. It is important to gather information about the problem, ask questions, think around the problem, be creative and brainstorm. By doing so, you'll come to the best and most long-term solution.

" Understanding the benefits of clearing away clutter - This is a good one! How much clutter is on your desk? By keeping your desk clear of all paperwork other than what you are working on, you'll eliminate distraction and improve concentration.

" The ability to make quick decisions - Your performance and leadership is often perceived by your ability to make quality decisions. Delays and indecision drain you of energy. When it is necessary to make a decision, don't procrastinate. Pinpoint the decision to be made and act on it!

" Taking the time to listen - Do you keep working while listening to others? Take the time to really listen and give your full attention to the speaker. If you can't, it would be better to explain you are unable to devote your attention to the matter at this time, and ask the person to return at a specific time later in the day when you can give him your undivided attention.

" Knowing when to delegate - Do you routinely take work home? Have you been accused of micro-managing? Do you spend more time on routine details instead of planning? These are all signs of an inability to delegate. Successful delegation instills initiative, loyalty, imagination and self discipline in your staff. Learn to delegate routine decisions, tasks which consume a large amount of your time or duties that under-specialize you.

By assessing your strengths and weaknesses and improving your leadership and management skills, you will not only help yourself but you will nurture the individuals who report to you. Help them to understand their importance to you; help them to improve their personal and professional lives and reap the rewards. Superb practice managers recognizes their ability to enrich the lives of those around them.